‘The language analogy is a great one,’ adds Korb. ‘The brain wants to respond with the easiest, reflexive route. If your first language is English, your instant knee-jerk will be to respond in English when someone asks you a question. Responding in Spanish instead takes more effort and requires the PFC to intervene. If you’re trying to learn Spanish (to be sober), it makes sense to hang out in Spanish-speaking (sober) circles. If you just hang out with English-speaking friends (drinking buddies), then it’s so easy to slip back into habitually speaking English (drinking). This is why it’s a
...more
